Methods and apparatus for performing multiple modes of ultrasound imaging using a single ultrasound transducer

Abstract

The present embodiments relate generally to ultrasound imaging methods and apparatus that allow for multiple modes of imaging using a single ultrasound transducer having a plurality of transducer elements. In an embodiment, there is provided an ultrasound imaging machine that is: operable in a first imaging mode in which the plurality of transducer elements are activated; and operable in a second imaging mode different from the first imaging mode, and in the second imaging mode, a subset of the plurality of transducer elements are activated so that ultrasound signals are steered from the subset of the plurality of transducer elements, where any remaining transducer elements of the plurality of transducer elements not part of the subset are inactive when operating in the second imaging mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ultrasound imaging method comprising, by an ultrasound imaging machine:
 imaging in a first mode using a sequential transducer comprising a plurality of transducer elements, wherein when imaging in the first mode, sequential groups of adjacent transducer elements of the plurality of transducer elements are pulsed for beamforming, the beamforming comprising delayed activation of the transducer elements within each of the groups of adjacent transducer elements, and wherein a same time delay is used to beamform for all the groups of adjacent transducer elements; and 
 imaging in a second mode different from the first mode, wherein when imaging in the second mode, a subset of at least two of the plurality of transducer elements are activated and the subset of transducer elements is repeatedly pulsed for beamforming, the beamforming comprising delayed activation of the transducer elements within the subset of transducer elements, and wherein the beamforming is repeatedly performed using a plurality of different time delays, so that a plurality of ultrasound signals are steered from the subset of transducer elements. 
 
     
     
       2. The ultrasound imaging method of  claim 1 , wherein when imaging in the second mode, any remaining transducer elements of the plurality of transducer elements not part of the subset are inactive. 
     
     
       3. The ultrasound imaging method of  claim 1 , wherein
 when imaging in the first mode, the sequential groups of adjacent transducer elements correspond to respective different apertures along a head of the sequential transducer; and 
 when imaging in the second mode, the subset of the plurality of transducer elements correspond to a single aperture on the head of the sequential transducer. 
 
     
     
       4. The ultrasound imaging method of  claim 1 , wherein the sequential transducer comprises a curvilinear transducer, and when imaging in the first mode, each of the plurality of ultrasound signals are projected in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the sequential transducer so that a curvilinear image is generated. 
     
     
       5. The ultrasound imaging method of  claim 1 , wherein the sequential transducer comprises a linear transducer, and when imaging in the first mode, each of the plurality of ultrasound signals are projected in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the sequential transducer so that a rectangular image is generated. 
     
     
       6. The ultrasound imaging method of  claim 1 , wherein when imaging in the second mode, each of the plurality of ultrasound signals is steered in a respective different direction so that a sector image is generated. 
     
     
       7. The ultrasound imaging method of  claim 6 , wherein the sector image has a sector angle of 60 to 90 degrees. 
     
     
       8. The ultrasound imaging method of  claim 6 , wherein angular spacing between the respective different directions is between 0.35 to 0.70 degrees. 
     
     
       9. The ultrasound imaging method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transducer elements comprise a pitch spacing between each adjacent transducer element, and the pitch spacing is between 100 to 400 microns. 
     
     
       10. An ultrasound imaging machine, comprising:
 an ultrasound processor; and 
 a sequential transducer communicably coupled to the ultrasound processor, the sequential transducer comprising a plurality of transducer elements; 
 wherein the ultrasound imaging machine is:
 operable in a first imaging mode in which the ultrasound processor pulses sequential groups of adjacent transducer elements of the plurality of transducer elements for beamforming, the beamforming comprising delayed activation of the transducer elements within each of the groups of adjacent transducer elements, and wherein a same time delay is used to beamform for all the groups of adjacent transducer elements; and 
 operable in a second imaging mode different from the first imaging mode, and in the second imaging mode, the ultrasound processor repeatedly pulses a subset of at least two of the plurality of transducer elements for beamforming, the beamforming comprising delayed activation of the transducer elements within the subset of transducer elements, and wherein the beamforming is repeatedly performed using a plurality of different time delays, so that a plurality of ultrasound signals are steered from the subset of transducer elements. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The ultrasound imaging machine of  claim 10 , wherein when imaging in the second mode, any remaining transducer elements of the plurality of transducer elements not part of the subset are inactive. 
     
     
       12. The ultrasound imaging machine of  claim 10 , wherein
 in the first imaging mode, the sequential groups of adjacent transducer elements correspond to respective different apertures along a head of the sequential transducer; and 
 in the second imaging mode, the subset of the plurality of transducer elements correspond to a single aperture on the head of the sequential transducer. 
 
     
     
       13. The ultrasound imaging machine of  claim 10 , wherein the sequential transducer comprises a curvilinear transducer, and when in the first imaging mode, each of the plurality of ultrasound signals are projected in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the sequential transducer so that a curvilinear image is generated. 
     
     
       14. The ultrasound imaging machine of  claim 10 , wherein the sequential transducer comprises a linear transducer, and when in the first imaging mode, each of the plurality of ultrasound signals are projected in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the sequential transducer so that a rectangular image is generated. 
     
     
       15. The ultrasound imaging machine of  claim 10 , wherein when in the second imaging mode, each of the plurality of ultrasound signals is steered in a respective different direction, so that a sector image is generated. 
     
     
       16. The ultrasound imaging machine of  claim 15 , wherein the sector image has a sector angle of 60 to 90 degrees. 
     
     
       17. The ultrasound imaging machine of  claim 15 , wherein angular spacing between the respective different directions is between 0.35 to 0.70 degrees. 
     
     
       18. The ultrasound imaging machine of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of transducer elements comprise a pitch spacing between each adjacent transducer element, and the pitch spacing is between 100 to 400 microns. 
     
     
       19. The ultrasound imaging machine of  claim 10 , wherein the sequential transducer comprises a housing containing the plurality of transducer elements, and the housing comprises a marking indicating a position of the subset of the plurality of transducer elements amongst the plurality of transducer elements. 
     
     
       20. A sequential ultrasound transducer, capable of being communicably coupled to an ultrasound processor, the sequential ultrasound transducer comprising:
 a plurality of transducer elements, wherein when the sequential ultrasound transducer is communicably coupled to the ultrasound processor, the ultrasound processor is configured to:
 activate the plurality of transducer elements in a first imaging mode, wherein in the first imaging mode, sequential groups of adjacent transducer elements of the plurality of transducer elements are pulsed for beamforming, the beamforming comprising delayed activation of the transducer elements within each of the groups of adjacent transducer elements, and wherein a same time delay is used to beamform for all the groups of adjacent transducer elements; and 
 activate a subset of at least two of the plurality of transducer elements in a second imaging mode different from the first imaging mode, wherein in the second imaging mode, the subset of transducer elements are repeatedly pulsed for beamforming, the beamforming comprising delayed activation of the transducer elements within the subset of transducer elements, and wherein the beamforming is repeatedly performed using a plurality of different time delays, so that a plurality of ultrasound signals are steered from the subset of transducer elements.